Phalaenopsis orchid plant Named ‘PHALFOFEEP’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALFOFEEP’, particularly characterized by having white flowers with red lips, 1 to 4 peduncles that are medium long and moderate, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALFOFEEP’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of the Orchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘PHALFOFEEP’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. The objective of this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant with numerous attractive white flowers with red lips, suitable for potted plant production.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALFOFEEP’ is a result of cross-pollination made by the inventor in April 2007 in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, of the proprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘01-1722’ (unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘24456-01’ (unpatented).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, in April 2010.Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culture since 2013 in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in the European Union on Sep. 28, 2017, by Applicant who obtained the subject matter disclosed directly from the inventor. ‘PHALFOFEEP’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world prior to the effective filing date of this application with the exception of sales or disclosures made one year or less before the effective filing date of this claimed invention by Applicant who obtained ‘PHALFOFEEP’ directly from the inventor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, and can be used to distinguish ‘PHALFOFEEP’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant:

-   -   1) White flowers with red lips;     -   2) 1 to 4 peduncles;     -   3) Peduncle is medium long and moderate; and     -   4) Shape of the leaf is oblong.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs were taken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, from 50-week-old plants in April 2019. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds, and foliage of ‘PHALFOFEEP’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALFOFEEP’.

FIG. 3 shows an overhead view of the leaves of ‘PHALFOFEEP’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHALFOFEEP’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype. The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under 4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Observations and measurements were made in April 2019 on flowering plants which were planted in 9-centimeter (diameter) pots. After in-vitro propagation, the plants were grown in nursery trays for 18-20 weeks, followed by transplantation to 9-centimeter pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 25 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 6 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 11 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C. Flowering occurs after 42 weeks in 9-centimeter pots.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.         -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.         -   Common name.—Moth orchid.         -   Variety name.—‘PHALFOFEEP’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-1722’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘24456-01’ (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture. -   Roots:     -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green (between RHS 190B and 190C)             colored roots with branching lateral roots having             yellow-green (RHS 144C) colored root tips. -   Plant:     -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Following asexual             propagation (in-vitro), the rooted cuttings grow for 18-20             weeks. After transplantation into 9-cm pots, the plants are             finished after 40 to 42 weeks.         -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Upright to slightly pendant with             panicle inflorescence.         -   Height (from soil level to top of             inflorescence).—Approximately 35.0 cm to 40.0 cm.         -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 34.0 cm to 36.0 cm.         -   Vigor.—Moderate. -   Leaves:     -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 7 to 9 leaves are             produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 18.0 cm             to 20.0 cm. Width: 5.0 cm to 6.0 cm. Shape: Oblong. Base             shape: Moderately elongated. Apex: Acute unequal. Leaf blade             angle with the petiole (measured from the horizontal             position): Between 15 degrees and 30 degrees. Leaf margin:             Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS             147B. Texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Rough.             Thickness: 2.5 mm to 2.9 mm. Variegation: Absent. Venation:             Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper surface: RHS             147A. Lower surface: RHS 147B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 4.         -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—14 to 20.         -   Length.—35.0 cm to 40.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—4.0 mm to 5.0 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly pendant.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Brown (RHS 200A).         -   Internode length.—3.0 cm to 4.0 cm. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, panicle             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Number of inflorescences.—1 to 4.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 170.0 mm to             220.0 mm.         -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 7 to 8 months             after planting in a 9-cm pot.         -   Flower.—Height: 40.0 mm to 45.0 mm. Diameter: 45.0 mm to             50.0 mm. Depth of lip: 14.0 mm to 16.0 mm.         -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 9 to 13 weeks.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flower bud.—Average size: Medium. Length: 13.0 mm to             15.0 mm. Width: 12.0 mm to 14.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped.             Color: Yellow-green (RHS 145A to 145B) with a touch of             diluting dark red (RHS 187A to 187B).         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:             Obtuse asymmetric. Margin: Wavy. Length (from base to tip):             22.0 mm to 24.0 mm. Width: 21.0 mm to 23.0 mm. Position of             the broadest part of the petal: Toward the base. Color (when             fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS             NN155C). Over color: Absent. Lower surface: Basic color:             White (RHS NN155C). Over color: Very light purple (RHS 76C)             in the middle with the midvein about RHS 76B.         -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Rounded to obtuse             symmetric. Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 23.0             mm to 25.0 mm. Width: 18.0 mm to 20.0 mm. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C).             Over color: Absent. Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS             NN155C). Over color: Light yellow-green (RHS 145D) at the             base; very light purple (RHS 76B) toward the margin.         -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.             Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 23.0 mm to             25.0 mm. Width: 22.0 mm to 24.0 mm. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C).             Over color: Light yellow-green (RHS 145C); slightly dotted             (RHS N77B) at the base. Lower surface: Basic color: Light             reddish-purple (RHS N78D). Over color: Light yellow-green             (RHS 145B to 145C) and purplish-red midvein (RHS N77B).         -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: 4.0             mm to 5.0 mm. Color of whiskers: Orange (RHS 25A).             Pubescence on the lip: Absent.         -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type V (as described in the             International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of             Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); spatulate.             Margin: Undulated. Length: 14.0 mm to 16.0 mm. Width: 11.0             mm to 13.0 mm. Color: Light greenish-yellow (RHS 8C);             striped (RHS 185A) at the base; red (RHS 185A) on one side             and red (RHS 185B to 185C) toward the other side.         -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular. Margin: Entire. Length: 15.0             mm to 17.0 mm. Width: 20.0 mm to 22.0 mm. Color: Slightly             greenish-yellow (RHS 3A) at the base; red (RHS 185A) and             purplish-red (RHS 60B) toward whiskers.         -   Callus.—Average size: Small. Height: 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm.             Length: 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Width: 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Color:             Yellow (RHS 14A); dotted (RHS 185A). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Column.—Length: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm. Diameter: 4.4 mm to             4.9 mm. Color: White (RHS NN155C).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Diameter: 0.8 mm to 0.9 mm. Color:             Orange (RHS 25A).         -   Ovary.—Length: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm. Diameter: 2.0 mm to 2.2 mm.             Color: Light yellow-green (RHS 145B) and light             reddish-purple (RHS N78D) toward the flower.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 27.0 mm to 29.0 mm. Diameter: 2.4 mm to             2.6 mm. Color: Dark red-brown (RHS 200A to 200B) at the             base; yellow-green (RHS 145A) toward the flower. -   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to     Phalaenopsis to date. -   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on     plants of the new Phalaenopsis to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND MOST SIMILAR VARIETIES

The female parent plant of ‘PHALFOFEEP’, cultivar ‘01-1722’ (unpatented), is no longer in existence, therefore a meaningful comparison cannot be made.

The male parent plant of ‘PHALFOFEEP’, cultivar ‘24456-01’ (unpatented), is no longer in existence, therefore a meaningful comparison cannot be made.

‘PHALFOFEEP’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named ‘PHALGEMAQ’ (unpatented) and ‘PHALBEMBU’ (unpatented). ‘PHALFOFEEP’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALGEMAQ’ in that ‘PHALFOFEEP’ has orange whiskers and white columns, whereas ‘PHALGEMAQ’ has whiskers that are reddish-orange at the base and RHS N172B toward the tip and white columns with one light purple stripe in the middle. Additionally, ‘PHALFOFEEP’ has smaller flowers and shorter whiskers than ‘PHALGEMAQ’.

‘PHALFOFEEP’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALBEMBU’ in that ‘PHALFOFEEP’ has orange whiskers and white columns, whereas ‘PHABUKALO’ has dark red whiskers and white columns with a light reddish-purple region in the middle. Additionally, ‘PHALFOFEEP’ has smaller flowers and shorter whiskers than ‘PHALBEMBU’. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALFOFEEP’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 